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Machine Safety

Machine Safety There are dozens of deaths and more than 40,000 injuries each year related to the use of machines. The HSE argues that many of these could easily be prevented with the use of adequate machine guards. On 30 September 2013, the HSE prosecuted Oldfields Ltd, an East London food manufacturer, for a series […]

Fewer Fires 2012/13

Fire and rescue authorities attended noticeably fewer fires in 2012/13, according to recently-released statistics from the government. Crews were present at the scene of 487,000 blazes or false alarms throughout Great Britain, which was 17 per cent less than the previous year’s tally of 586,000. In addition, 2012/13’s figure is almost 50 per cent lower […]

Machine Safety

Fewer Fires 2012/13

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Machine Safety

Machine Safety

There are dozens of deaths and more than 40,000 injuries each year related to the use of machines.

The HSE argues that many of these could easily be prevented with the use of adequate machine guards.

On 30 September 2013, the HSE prosecuted Oldfields Ltd, an East London food manufacturer, for a series of safety failings in relation to its dicing machine.

The HSE found that Oldfields:

did not carry out a sufficient Risk Assessment for use of the machine
failed to follow their own safety procedures for its use
failed to follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions
failed to adequately instruct, supervise or train employees
failed to prevent access by workers to dangerous moving parts
failed to conduct adequate safety checks on the machine, or ensure that its controls were clearly visible.

Oldfields was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay £9,399 costs after pleading guilty to offences under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Comment

The HSE is taking active enforcement measures against employers and employees who actively remove or tamper with machine guards in an attempt to make their work quicker or more efficient.

With increasing automation in modern UK industry, employers must ensure machine guards are in place and used where necessary, or face potential action by the HSE.

In addition, employers should ensure that its risk assessments are suitable and sufficient, and deal specifically with the identifiable risks arising out of the use of a machine. Serious consideration should be given to any machine guards which could minimise the risk of injury.

Importantly, if machine guards are being used, employers must have procedures in place to ensure they are being utilised and adequately maintained.

Fewer Fires 2012/13

Fire and rescue authorities attended noticeably fewer fires in 2012/13, according to recently-released statistics from the government.

Crews were present at the scene of 487,000 blazes or false alarms throughout Great Britain, which was 17 per cent less than the previous year’s tally of 586,000.

In addition, 2012/13’s figure is almost 50 per cent lower than ten years ago.

Within the 487,000, fires accounted for 192,600, a huge 29 per cent reduction from last year’s 273,000. False alarms made up the remaining 294,800, which also marked a six per cent decline.

The number of outdoor blazes dropped by a noticeable 38 per cent on account of more rainfall in spring and summer than the country is typically used to.

There were 350 fire fatalities in Britain in this time frame, in comparison to the 397 from the year before. This figure was also the lowest it’s been in the last 50 years.